Pacific Tree Frog

The Pacific tree frog (Hyla regilla) is called the “Hollywood frog” because its voice is used in every movie in which you hear croaking frogs. Only a few inches long, this is one noisy frog for its size! But try to find it and you will see why people say this frog can “throw its voice” to another location. Tree frogs are very common on the West Coast and can be found in all shades of greens or browns, but an individual tree frog can alter its coloration to blend in better with its surroundings. The frog’s belly is usually a pale color or white. It is a ground dweller mostly that loves tall grass. Its toe pad helps it climb vegetation and cling to sticks. Pacific tree frogs are amphibians because they begin life in water but, as adults, live on land. The males are often smaller than the females and have a dark patch of orange skin on their throats. This dark patch is the vocal sac, which stretches outward when a male is calling to attract a mate.